Tony Jones has issued a public apology to Novak Djokovic after the sports presenter's mocking of the 10-time Australian Open champion left the Serbian superstar and his fans fuming.
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Djokovic advanced to the Open quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over Czech Jiri Lehecka on Sunday night but declined to be interviewed on court by Jim Courier after the match, instead taking the microphone to briefly thank the fans.
It was initially believed he was upset by some members of the crowd, but the tennis great revealed it was in protest of Jones' behaviour.
Djokovic said he would refuse any interviews with the tournament's host broadcaster Channel Nine until he received an apology.
The veteran newsreader was doing a live broadcast from Melbourne Park on Friday night when a large group of Djokovic fans holding Serbian flags began cheering in the background behind him.
Jones sledged the fans, singing to them: "Novak, he's overrated ... Novak's a has-been. Novak, kick him out."
While the comments were supposed to be a joke, he was widely slammed on social media.
Jones offered his public apology on Monday morning after saying he was surprised the episode had reached such a point.
"The comments were made on the news on the Friday night, which I considered to be banter," Jones said on the Today Show.
"I considered it to be humour, which is consistent with most things I do, whether it be the Sunday Footy Show or whether it be the Morning Show here.
"Having said that, I was made aware on the Saturday morning from Tennis Australia via the Djokovic camp that the Djokovic camp was not happy at all with those comments.
"Now, as such, I immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them. So this is 48 hours ago.
"For any disrespect that Novak felt that I'd caused, and as I stand here now, I stand by that apology to Novak if he felt any disrespect, which quite clearly he does."
Djokovic made a statement before the start of Sunday night's press conference to explain his boycott.
"A couple of days ago, a famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster Channel Nine here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me," he said.
"Since then, he chose not to issue any public apology, neither did Channel Nine, so since they are official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel Nine.
"I have nothing against Jim Courier, neither the Australian public.
"It was a very awkward situation for me to face on the court today and it's unfortunate.
"So I leave it to Channel Nine to handle this the way they think they see fit."
Jones, speaking after the incident made headlines around the world overnight, also apologised to Serbian fans while claiming he'd built a good rapport with them over the years.
"They come here with the flags and they provide so much colour and so much passion, and there was banter so I thought what I was doing was an extension of that banter," he said.
"Quite clearly that hasn't been interpreted that way, so I do feel as though I've let down the Serbian fans.
"I'm just saying and not to try and wriggle out of trouble or anything, I genuinely feel for those fans."
Jones said his biggest regret and where he "overstepped the mark" was singing "kick him out".
"Now I can stand here and put whatever spin I want in that, but it can only be interpreted as a throwback to the COVID years when he was kicked out (of Australia for not having a visa)," he added.
"Now that has angered Novak, which I completely understand now."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he'd seen Jones' mocking remarks about Djokovic.
"We need more kindness and generosity and respect. Just across the board. I think that's what people are looking for," he told ABC radio.
The saga prompted widespread backlash on social media.
"The audacity to call Novak Djokovic overrated by a reporter is just insane. The guy literally completed tennis by winning everything you can in our sport!" dual Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka posted on X.
Jones was also a target for American player Danielle Collins last week after he labelled her a "brat" for her post-match reaction when she defeated Australian Destanee Aiava.
Australian Associated Press
